Station Name: AINSDALE BEACH

[Source: Paul Wright]

Date opened: 9.6.1901
Location: On the north side of Shore Road.
Company on opening: Cheshire Lines Committee
Date closed to passengers: 7.1.1952
Date closed completely: 7.1.1952
Company on closing: British Railways (London Midland Region)
Present state: Demolished - Coastal Road runs through the station site.
County: Lancashire
OS Grid Ref: SD302128
Date of visit: 27.12.2005

Notes: Opened as part of the Southport and Cheshire Lines Extension Railway which ran between Aintree Central and Southport Lord Street in 1901; the station was named Seaside until 1.1.1912 when it became Ainsdale Beach.

The line was designed to give access to the lucrative holiday market at Southport as an alternative to the L&Y route. From the beginning the line was served by trains from Liverpool Central and from Manchester the former following a circuitous route that could not hope to compete with the direct Liverpool Exchange to Southport Chapel Street Route.

Ainsdale Beach Station stood on the north side of a level crossing and consisted of two platforms with wooden waiting shelters on each side.

The station closed to passengers on 1.1.1917 as a war time economy measure. It re-opened on 1.4.1919.

The line did not survive long into the nationalisation period and Ainsdale Beach Station closed entirely on 7.1.1952. Today the route of the line between Birkdale Palace and Woodvale forms the Coastal Drive which runs between the extensive dune system that stretches along the Sefton Coast to the south of Southport.

Today some of the stations fencing posts can still be seen at what would have been the rear of the southbound platform. Also still standing are a row of railway cottages just to the east of the station site.

For stations on Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway click on the station name: Southport Lord Street, Birkdale Palace, Woodvale, Mossbridge, Altcar & Hillhouse, Lydiate, Sefton and Maghull & Aintree Central


Ainsdale Beach Station in June 1951
Copyright photograph from John Alsop collection



The very degraded remains of Ainsdale Beach station in 1964
Photo by Keith Rose

The site of Ainsdale Beach Station in December 2005; taken
from the same viewpoint as the picture above
P
hoto by Paul Wright

Click on thumbnail to enlarge


 

 

 

[Source: Paul Wright]


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